atever lay beyond that great front door. Deciding the latter
course to be preferable, she timidly followed the vanishing candle down
the long hall to where a barricade of bars and chains and bolts made
admission from without a matter of some moments.

"Hold the candle, Alfaretta, while I unfasten the door," commanded the
Madam, and the girl had to obey. But her hand shook so that she
scattered "droppings," which even at that moment did not escape the
mistress's critical eye and which would have to be cleaned up as soon as
morning came.

At last the door was opened, and to Madam Sturtevant nobody was visible
save Susanna Sprigg, wearing her Sunday bonnet and her most polite
manner, while her spectacles gleamed like balls of fire as the
candle-light fell upon them. But what Alfaretta saw was another face, so
wild and fierce and terrible to look upon that her heart almost ceased
beating. A white and haggard face, that seemed imprinted upon the
darkness as if it belonged to no body nor substance but was a ghostly
apparition of the night. All the eerie stories the poor child had heard
during her life at the "County Farm," from the lips of the garrulous
pensioners who had nothing better to do than invent them, came back to
her now; and as the face appeared to be coming nearer, growing more and
more distinct, she uttered a piercing shriek and slammed the door with
such violence that the candle went out and the darkness she dreaded
enveloped them all.

CHAPTER XII.

A STURTEVANT--PERFORCE

"Alfaretta!" cried Madam Sturtevant, "what does this mean?" Something of
the girl's panic had seized her, also, though she tried to hide her own
agitation by sternness.

"My suz, Alfy Brown! What ails ye? You nigh knocked me down, slammin'
the door right in my face, that way!" exclaimed Susanna, who had,
fortunately, stepped within before this strange thing had happened. She
was herself in an excited mood, having passed through what she had
during the past day, and having had her mind further disturbed by the
tales she had gathered during her progress. Now here at the Mansion,
where was always dignified composure and serene hospitality, to find
such tardy admission and such hysterical welcome--it was too much! Her
reflections were swift and angry, and while all still stood in the dark,
as yet too surprised to move, she demanded, crisply: "I want
Katharine."

"Come this way, Mrs. Sprigg. Let me take your hand and lead you. I'l